Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay
क्षिप्रं वामभिकामश्न विनशिष्यति पापकृत् | नहुषो देवि शक्रश्न सुरैश्चवर्यमवाप्स्यति
kṣipraṃ vām abhikāmaś ca vinaśiṣyati pāpakṛt | nahuṣo devi śakraś ca suraiś cāryam avāpsyati ||
‘সোনকালেই কামান্ধ পাপী বিনষ্ট হ’ব। হে দেৱী! নহুষো নহয়, শক্ৰো নহয়—দেৱসকলৰ মাজত শ্ৰেষ্ঠতা লাভ কৰিব।’
शल्य उवाच
Wrongdoing and uncontrolled desire lead swiftly to ruin; even exalted status cannot be securely held when dharma is violated.
Śalya delivers a warning framed through mythic exemplars (Nahuṣa and Śakra/Indra), emphasizing that supremacy among the gods is not attained—or is lost—when one is driven by sin and desire.